She wanted to think of Ursula as base and wanton and had, until now, never quite dared to believe the many strange rumours which certainly had reached her ears. With all her faults, Mary was a just woman and above all a proud one; she would never have allowed her rival to suffer long and seriously under a false calumny. The name of the Marquis de Suarez, when she uttered it, had been but a shaft hurled at random. But since His Eminence so palpably hinted a confirmation of her hopes, she was more than ready to give his insinuations the fullest credence. So pleased was she that she gave him quite a pleasant smile, the first he had had from her since the afternoon. "As Your Eminence justly remarks," she said graciously, "the matter is perhaps not of grave moment. But our interest in the young maidens who form our Court is a genuine one nevertheless. I pray you let it pass--Duchess, we'll speak of it all on the morrow. My lord Cardinal, we will wish you good night." She was about to finally pass him and to leave the room when her curiosity got the better of her usual dignified reserve. "Is it the last night Your Eminence will spend at our Court?" she asked pointedly. "I think not, Your Majesty," replied the Cardinal blandly. "'Tis many days yet which I shall hope to spend in Your Majesty's company." "Yet the skein is still entangled, my lord." "'Twill be unravelled, Your Majesty." "When?" "_Quien sabe?_" he replied. "Perhaps to-night." "To-night?" She had allowed herself to be led away by the eagerness of her desire to know what was happening. Shrewd enough where her own wishes and plans were concerned, she could not help but notice the air of contentment, even of triumph, which the Cardinal had worn throughout the evening. He certainly did not look like a man about to be sent back discomfited, to an irate master, there to explain that he had failed in the task allotted to him. Mary's curiosity was very much on the alert, but His Eminence's monosyllabic answers were not intended to satisfy her, and perforce she had to desist from further questioning him. Obviously he did not mean to tell her anything just yet. She bade him good night with more graciousness than he could have anticipated, and his bow to her was full of the most profound respect. A moment later she had passed out of the room, followed by Her Grace of Lincoln and her maids-of-honour. CHAPTER XXIV CHECK TO THE KING The colloquy between Mary Tudor and Ursula Glynde had probably not lasted more than a few minutes. To Wessex it seemed as if years had elapsed since he had closed the door of the small inner room behind him, shutting out from his sight the beautiful vision which had filled his soul with gladness.